Compressor



Nov. 21, 1950 o. R. STEPHENSON r 2,530,551

COMPRESSOR Filed Jan. 15. 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TORS 0RLEYR. STEPHEMWN ALFORD H. STEPHE/VSON BYQ/(QM/ Nov. 21, 1950 o. R. STEPHENSON EI'AL Y 2,530,551

COMPRESSOR Filed Jan. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R: a aamg I N V EN TORS 0RLEY R. STEPHENS 0N ALFORDH. S TEPIIENS 0N BY/ t Z ATTQRREY 1950 o. R. STEPHENSON ETAL 2,530,551

COMPRESSOR Filed Jan. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 0RLEYR.STEPHEMSOA{ ALFflRD 1377FPHENS0A A7'TORNEY fiatenteci Nov. 21

O'aklan'iQCalif, Beth N. Stephenson,

heir

of said AlfordHiStephenson; deceasetlf-a signer "to said Orley- R -Stephenson have been manufactured ancl s'old, all (if/said I devices operating with vafyiiig cle'gresfiefficien- 'c'y. In the past, 'hwev'en'jsuch devices have'ciistoinaiily"beenbllinibefcme- Bind complicatedami much of the power used to operate them has been absorbed in various 'unriece'ssaryfuntions.

It is an object ofrthe. present invm'ie'n'to .pro-- vide 'a compressor makin .use f i the absolute minimum number of," parts \vher'eb'ysiinplicitybf designand con'struc'tionWv'illbe achieved and loss of fiieienoy' due' tofriction of excess. parts eliminated.

It is a" further object of this invention. to pro- 'vide' a device of the"kind"described which is compact in its"de'sign, light in 'Weight afid v'vhich.'re quresthe minimum Tofu attention by an operator.

"Further Objects and advantages ofwthis invennan will "appear from 'the following "description of thefprefer rd embodiment of the 'sanie 'ia'nd illustrated in the accompanying drawing which:

Figure 1 is a front"elevationalviwfofTalcoinpressor incorporating our invention.

Figure 2' is'a side elevational view. offa, 66mprss'or incorporating our invention.

7 Figure" 3' is across sectionalfviewof i iwltaken a1on g'1inee '3 'ofFig'lire' 2 with a portion offthe cylinder" head cut away to show the valve con- 'struction.

Fig'ure'4 is across sectional view takenialong line 4 4 of Figure'Z.

v Figure 5 is a cross sectional detail taken along line '5-5 of Figure'Z. I

Thisdevice" consists generally'of three principal parts: A stationary assembly 'e1ement''m1comp'i'ising" a cylinder, cylinder heads and valve" assn iblies, and "a suitable mounting pedestal; fa reciprocating assembly I I consisting generallyi'f a. piston "adapted to reciprocate 'within'tlie'pyl- 'inderand suitable piston rod; anda rotatalole assembly'i [consisting generally of. a camend means for driving the same.

As shown in'Figures 1, 2 and 3, stationary as sembly H3 consists generally bf an open ended cylinder [5 'on-both ends'iof 'whichaie mounted identical i cylinder heads l6 and lfi'aywhich acommodate identical inlet and outievvaiv -alssembiies Ti and I8 respectively (see Fig'ure'5).

The entire apparatus is mounted upona-suitto any'foundation as by means'of foot 2 I. "Pedespanties suitably"'seclired'jltoltlie stationary] 1 tion For "our' device "as .by means or suitame Z InletTan'd outlet valve assemblies ii an'djii's arei 'grierailyiof the"tyfiefadaDtedto-Tbe perated b'y'd I tiali'pfssiire. ,Asis'howniiniFi 115, inlet 'val've assembly I"! fis 'molinted in "a "suitably drilled 'Jarid tapped "cavity 39 "in cylinder heads is and 16a respet'ivei "Assembly; i'ijco'nsists lgenerally ef iag'removable bridge "32 -vvhich provides avalve seati sl and'a ynvegumete and which isv adapted '1'20 beheld in proper position ithin cavity 3i! ;by means of removable plug threads35 ofwhichrare-adafatedio coeperate with the :tapped portion 10f cavity 38. Valve ,is adapted for longitudinal movement Within$Va|1V guide 33 and: is ;aclapted to cooperate-W1 11 valve seat '32. Valve tfi is normally held in 'close'd positionwwith respect 'at0'- valve -seat$32 sas byzzmea'ris of rsuitaiale springa'g'iwoperating :against the rlower side2'ofi flangei38 upon=-theiupper'end:of the: valve stemv39.

'Valve assernbly 18 v-is ciadapte'd to be "mounted "m a suitably drilled and tappedicavityvfiiil in" cyliii'd'er heaids ifi eirid liia reS1ectively,;r=a d=- consists generally of a removable plug 5i forming a va1ve 'guide -52 iNitHiwhi'eh vaive ss is meurited for longitudinal nioveinent. Valve 53 is adaptd to cooperate*with ewe seat '54 and is urged to clo'sdgposition in 'contact therewith 'by virtue of spring 55. inge 111s provided withthreads fi Which-"areadapted tofboofierate vviththe v tapped portion 5i offcav'ityifi ll" of' cyliride'r heaiwi iiand 'IEa. fiEtotl'i cap ifofi'inltvalve' assembly' i l "and capf'E'il "6f exhaustyarve assemmy is arejproviddwithsuitably tapped' oiiflcestfi "a'rid'" 59 "resipeetivry. Threade'dforifices 53 'areadaptedto accommodateso-calledonventional unloaders (notishewn) which Tare? r'sponsivejto thefpressurei'intlief es-sure tank'wherb ivnenthe: essure Within thatta'nk" ceedsapiedeterimrid value,Lthe"funloadfW V 'closingcoflinlt vaIvesieafwhereb ffarmer, compression islprdhib ,d. w I

Fromtheforegoin'g ie'isobviousjthatf when the pressure within cylinder heads .f6, a';n"d 16a irespectiveiyjis less"thanlthepres ure on the flame phresi'dei'ofiinlt valve. that, inlet, valve 36 Will open. and. allowlthev I'introduction of air other gasifitotheoylinder heads [For l'fi'aJ It ll op'erate to restraintlie is also obvious that a decrease in pressure within cylinder heads It or I60. will close valve 53.

When the pressure within cylinder heads I6 or Ilia exceeds the pressure on the outlet side of valve 53, that valve 53 will be open whereby air or other gas compressed within cylinder heads IE or Ifia will be forced through cavity 55 into a suitable storage tank (not shown). It is obvious that an increase in pressure within cylinder heads I6 and Mia will not open valve 56 but will urge the same to closed position.

The exhaust or outflow ports 60 may be connected by any suitable manifolding to a suitable storage tank, not shown. The inlet passages 6| may open directly to the atmosphere or may be connected to suitable filter means, not shown.

The reciprocating assembly I! consists generally of a piston '53 provided With suitable piston rod TI and suitable piston rings I2, and is adapted to reciprocate within cylinder I5. Piston rod 1| reciprocates in suitable bearings I3 mounted in cylinder heads I6 and H311. Piston rod II is suitably machined at its ends substantially as shown in Figure 4 for cooperation with cam 80.

Rotatable assembly I2 consists generally of cam 80, driving element 8I and housing 82 and is rotatably mounted upon shaft 83. A shaft or spindle 83 is suitably secured to stationary assembly II] as by means of bolts 84, for example.

Housing- 82 is suitably mounted upon shaft 83 as by means of conventional bearing assemblies 86 and 87, which, as shown, are suitably mounted upon shaft 83 and are adapted to cooperate with the suitable hub 88 of housing 82. The entire assembly is held upon shaft 83. by means of nut 90 and lock nut 9i which cooperate with the threaded portion 92 of shaft 83. Longitudinal movement of housing 82 and its associated parts with respect to shaft 83 (when nuts 9!] and SI in the position shown in Figure 3) is prevented by shoulders 93 and 94 of hub 88 and shoulder 95 on shaft 83 against which shoulders, bearing assemblies 85 and 3'! are in contact. Bearings 86 and 8'! permit the rotation of assembly I2 about shaft 83 and serve as thrust bearings to prohibit longitudinal movement of assembly I2 with respect to shaft 83 and assembly IE]. A suitably threaded cap 98 is adapted tocooperate with the threaded portion 99 on hub 88. A suitable gasket I provides a leak proof seal between cap 98 and hub 88.

Housing 82 is suitably secured to pulley BI and cam 80 by means of suitable bolts I 82. Pulley BI is adapted to be driven by any suitable means of power, by means of a V-belt, not shown, which cooperates therewith. Rotation of pulley 8| causes rotation of the entire rotatable assembly I2 including cam 86 and housing- 82.

We have provided an inner annular dished-out member I II! which is suitably secured to cylinder I5 by means of bolts 84. Member III] is in frictional engagement with the cylinder heads I6 and l6a at points III and Illa and H2 and II2a respectively and is provided with orifices I I3 and I I4 through which piston rod II may pass. Orifices H3 and I I4 are of slightly greater diameter than piston rod II and do not contact the same. The outer annular edge of member H0 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange H5, which in turn is provided with an inwardly extending annular lip HE.

A cooperating coaxially aligned annular facing ring H8 is suitably secured to rotatable cam 80 as by means of the aforementioned bolt I82 and is provided with an outturned annular lip I I9.

Coaxially aligned annular flange H5 and annular facing I i8 and concentric lips I I6 and I I9 cooperate to form a suitable housing for an annular gasket I20 whereby the escape of lubricant or other liquid from the interior of rotatable element I2 is prohibited.

Housing 82 is provided with a suitably threaded orifice I25 adapted to accommodate plug I26 whereby a suitable lubricant may be introduced into the area inside of housing 82, and hub 88, cap 98, member I I0 and annular facing ring- II8. Lubricants within the above defined area provide lubrication for bearings 86 and 87, piston rod H and cam track 80, and connecting rod II and bearing I3.

As shown in Figure 4, cam is adapted to cause piston 70 to reciprocate three times within cylinder I5 upon each rotation of rotatable element I2, by the operation of cam surface 80a against the camming surfaces of piston rod 'II.

It will be appreciated that the cam track 89a need not be the identical cam track herein disclosed. However we believe that the cam track developed here in which the rate of reciprocation of the piston I0 within the cylinder I5 is the greatest during the middle of its stroke and in which the rate of reciprocation is decreased at the end of the stroke is desirable.

Operation of the device may be briefly described as follows:

Exhaust ports 60 are connected by means of suitable manifolding to a pressure storage tank in any conventional manner, both the manifold-' ing and the storage tank being coventional. Rotatable assembly element I2 is adapted to be driven by any suitable source of power, as for example an electric motor or internal combustion engine as by means of a V-belt cooperating With pulley 8|. Rotation of pulley SI causes similar rotation of the entire rotatable assembly I2 including housing 82 and cam 89. Rotation of cam 80 results in a camming action against the ends of piston rod II thereby causing reciprocation of piston 10 within cylinder I5 creates differential pressure therein, thereby operating inlet valves I! and exhaust valves I8.

For example, movement of piston I0 toward cylinder head I6 compresses the gas in that end of cylinder I5 adjacent cylinder head 56. When the pressure of the gas or air in cylinder head I6 increases beyond the combined pressure of spring 55 and the air pressure in the pressure storage tank, valve 53 opens and the compressed gas within cylinder head I6 is forced therethrough into the manifolding of the exhaust side of valve 53.

The same movement of piston I0 reduces the pressure in cylinder head Ifia and tends to create a vacuum therein. When the vacuum pressure within cylinder head I6a overcomes the force exerted upon valve 36 by valve spring 31, valve 36 opens establishing communication between the interior of cylinder head IGa and the atmosphere whereby air at atmospheric pressure is free to enter cylinder head I6a and that portion of cylinder I5 adjacent thereto.

Reciprocation of piston I0 within cylinder I5 in the opposite direction has the opposite eifect; to wit, drawing air from the atmosphere through the inlet valve 36 in cylinder head I6 and forcing the compressed air through the exhaust valve 53 in cylinder head I6a, achieving a double action effect.

With the use of the cam track shown in Figure 4, three complete reciprocations of piston 10 assesses mountaineer-'15 are achieved upen each at;

elation" of cam '80, resulting pressure and suction strolies'of piston 1'8. is the eventth'e use or belt drive oil pulley 8| is undesirable, any suitable means may be used to rotate uiiit I2 We have shown, for a:- ainpl; a coaxially aligned collar [3t which may be suitably secured tcassembly l2 as by means of bolts i311 Collar 53-6 is prqvided with an annular' flange 13 by means of which it may be connected to any suitable source of power thereby providing means whereby assembly I 2 may be rotated" resulting in the reciprocation of piston 70 within cylinder 15.

We claim:

1. In a rotary compressor adapted to' be driven by asuitable source of power, a stationary as:

sembly comprising a double a'ti cylin'de" having a pair of. cylinder heads ea'chiof accommas-res a suitable valve' me'chanisin-,- a recipreca'ting' assembly comprising apistofi'an a pistonrod having two external ends projecting from said cylinder heads and adapted to reciprocate with respect to said stationary assembly, and rotating assembly mounted for rotation with respect to and about said stationary assembly and comprising a cam and adapted to be connected to said source of power whereby said cam may be rotated, both of said external ends of said piston rod adapted to cooperate with said cam whereby rotation of said rotating assembly causes reciprocation of said reciprocating assembly.

2. In a rotary compressor; a stationary assembly comprising a cylinder, a cylinder head and valve assembly at both ends of said cylinder; a. reciprocating assembly comprising a piston adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder and a piston rod having two external ends connected to said piston, each of said external ends extending through one of said cylinder heads; and a rotating assembly comprising a cam adapted to surround and rotate with respect to said stationary assembly and to contact both said external ends of the piston rod.

3. In a device of the character described; a stationary assembly comprising a cylinder having a pair of opposed cylinder heads, and inlet and exhaust valve assemblies mounted in said cylinder heads; a reciprocating assembly comprising a piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, a piston rod having two external opposed ends which are adapted to pass through the cylinder head at each end of said cylinder; and a cam adapted to rotate about said stationary assembly and adapted to cooperate with said external opposed ends of said piston rod whereby the piston may be reciprocated within said cylinder upon rotation of said cam, reciprocation of said piston within said cylinder creating differential pressures therewithin thereby operating said inlet and said exhaust valves.

4. In a device of the character described, a stationary assembly comprising a cylinder having a cylinder head at each end and each cylinder head having a valve assembly, a reciprocating assembly comprising a piston and a piston rod having a pair of opposed external ends and a rotating assembly comprising a cam adapted to cooperate with the external ends of said piston rod to cause reciprocation of said piston within said cylinder, said rotating assembly being mounted upon a spindle suitably secured to said stationary assembly, and means upon said r0- tating assembly whereby the same may be suitcaries of'said piston? eating ssembiy rfiia'r g a, h 613 secured gs asst-1 35 secret 6r ea ea tp rota te with reseeet ts and about safe cyl nder having a cy m saidcylinderlieadlseach adapted a? valve media 5 to" said stationary bbth" extefnai ends or s" V adapted to cooperate with said cam wlireb nation of said rotating asseinmy causes rem rc 6; In a" rainy compressed statics-airy sembly comprising cylinder" pair of cylin er heads mounted on opposit ends ofsaid cylinder;

. are, to" reciprocate within said cylinder and a pair" of piston rods connected to said piston and extending from opposite faces of said piston through both of said cylinder heads; and a rotating assembly mounted upon said spindle and adapted to rotate with respect to said spindle and said stationary assembly, said rotating assembly comprising a cam adapted to cooperate with the ends of said piston rods extending through said cylinder heads and to cause the same to reciprocate with respect to said stationary assembly upon, rotation of said rotating assembly.

7. In a device of the character described; a. stationary assembly comprising a cylinder, two. cylinder heads, an inlet and outlet valve assem-. bly in each of said cylinder heads, said valves. being operated by difierential pressure; a re-. ciprocating assembly comprising a piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder and a piston rod having two external ends adapted to pass through said cylinder heads; a rotating cam surrounding; the stationary assembly and adapted to cooper-- ate with the external ends of said piston rod: whereby the piston may be reciprocated within: said cylinder upon rotation of said cam, recipro-- cation of said piston within said cylinder creating difierential pressure therewithin thereby operating said inlet and said exhaust valves.

8. In a device of the character described adapted to be driven by an outside source of power, a stationary assembly comprising a cylinder having a cylinder head at each end, each of said cylinder heads having inlet and exhaust valve assemblies, the inlet valves opening to the atmosphere and the outlet valves being connected to a suitable storage tank, said valves being operated by differential pressure within said cylinder; a rotatable cam, a reciprocating piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, a pair of coaxially aligned piston rods extending from opposite faces of said piston through said cylinder heads and adapted to operate said piston, the external ends of said rods cooperating with said rotating cam which surrounds said stationary assembly and which is adapted to be driven by said outside source of power, and reciprocation of said piston creating difierential pressures within said cylinder thereby operating said inlet and exhaust valves.

9. In a device of the character described, a stationary assembly comprising a double acting assembly comprising a cam adapted to surround and rotate with respect to said stationary assembly and to engage the ends of said piston rods extending through said cylinder heads whereby when said cam is rotated said piston is caused to reciprocate within said cylinder and create differential pressures therein whereby reciprocation of said piston in one direction opens the exhaust valve in one of said cylinder heads and the inlet valve in the other of said cylinder heads and reverse reciprocation of said piston within said cylinder opens the inlet valve in said first cylinder head and the exhaust valve in said second cylinder head.

10. In a device of the character described, a stationary assembly comprising a cylinder having a pair of cylinder heads including therein suitable valve assemblies, a piston and a piston rod having two external ends in which each of said external ends of said piston rods is adapted to extend through one of said cylinder heads on the ends of said cylinders; and a rotating cam adapted to rotate about said stationary assembly and to contact both said external ends of the piston rod. I v

ORLEY R. STEPHENSON.

ALFORD H. STEPHENSON;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 11,666 Gatley Sept. 12, 1854 247,360 Jay Sept. 20, 1881 736,986 Lyford et al Aug. 25, 1903 1,153,312 Karcher Sept. 14, 1915 2,314,583 Kitsman Mar. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 108,331 Switzerland 1925 

